Investors Ramp Up Fight for Ballot Choice

Editor's note: This is the third story in an occasional series exploring the rise in shareholder activism and its impact on U.S. corporations amid the economic downturn. The first explored reasons behind the trend. The second detailed efforts by investors to rein in soaring executive compensation.

Like baseball, voting for corporate board members is a time-honored springtime tradition.

But that tradition is increasingly under fire from angry shareholders who say the game is rigged.

Because the ballots provided to investors list only one slate of candidates, handpicked by company management, critics say the system is undemocratic and prevents shareholders from appointing representatives who will truly look out for their interests. ...